Glossary Category: Specimens & Collections

Linked notes that show how observations and decisions connect through a trip.

Attaching descriptive context information so specimens retain origin details.

A secondary sample taken from the same location for backup or comparison.

Field data backup is the habit of copying photos, GPS tracks, and notes during or right after a trip so a dead phone does not erase provenance.

A consistent way of recording observations, locations, and decisions during a collecting trip.

Find location redundancy means recording the same spot more than one way—GPS, photo, and written notes—so one failure does not break the record.

Isotope analysis measures ratios of specific isotopes in a mineral, rock, or fossil material to help interpret origin, age context, or alteration history—useful for supporting provenance or formation claims when the right sample and method are used.

A methodical way of taking and organizing photos so they support location and context.

Post-trip specimen triage is the first sorting pass at home to stabilize labels, separate priorities, and flag anything that needs more research.

A small collection of known specimens used for comparison.